ON THE ROAD
WITH TONY...
Welcome to our August newsletter!
I'm very proud of all the Clerk's Office improvements that you may have noticed over the past several years.
We feature fast and efficient service (with shorter wait times) from our knowledgeable clerks. You may have noticed that you always get a live person to talk to on the phone during regular business hours, and you never are sent to voicemail.
One area that we have streamlined is the first-time CPL application in our "CPL Service Center." Once you have completed your training, you simply bring your training certificate, submit your completed application and get the required finger-printing all during one visit.
Please see the video below. It's almost like an "old-time movie."
Election security continues to be a top priority in Macomb County. St. Clair Shores Clerk Abby Barrett was diligent in helping expose four possible cases of "double voting" in the Primary Election.
According to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, "I’m grateful to the Macomb County Clerk for ensuring that voter fraud is rare and that when it happens, we catch it and prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law. He followed the proper protocols and the matter has been referred to the Attorney General for further investigation and potential criminal charges."
Please check out the news stories below for more information…
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Clerk's Office Offers First-Time CPL App/
Fingerprinting Streamlined Process
 The Clerk’s Office “Concealed Pistol License Application Service Center,” located at 120 N Main Street in downtown Mount Clemens, offers CPL applicants a streamlined process. First-time CPL applicants can now file their applications and get fingerprinted the same day.
Simply visit the CPL first-time application web page (see above) for the simple three-step process. Once you have fulfilled the requirements (including completing your training), you simply bring your training certificate, submit your completed application and get the required finger-printing all during one visit.
“Instead of having to schedule and visit another agency to get fingerprinted, our office offers same-day application and fingerprinting,” explained County Clerk Anthony G. Forlini. “Applicants can use our convenient appointment system to keep wait times down. We’ve noticed smaller wait times since we installed the new queueing system.”
First-time applicants can schedule their appointments by visiting the “Virtual
Clerk’s Office” Quick Serve app and selecting “CPL” and “First-Time Applicant.”
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V I D E O F E A T U R E
 According to Macomb County Clerk Anthony G. Forlini, “Our office works unlike any government office. ‘It’s more like an old-time movie!’”
CLICK HERE to play video!
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I N T H E N E W S
 CBS DETROIT: Macomb County reports possible double voting in St. Clair Shores, calls for investigation
By DeJanay Booth-Singleton / August 16, 2024 / CBS Detroit
ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - Reports of possible double voting are under investigation in Macomb County.
Officials say County Clerk Anthony Forlini and the St. Clair Shores Clerk's Office notified the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office that four people may have double-voted during Michigan's primary election.
The prosecutor's office forwarded the investigation to the St. Clair Shores Police Department.
State law says any election official who is aware of residents possibly voting both in person and absentee ballot must report the issue to their respective county prosecutor's office and Michigan Secretary of State.
"Our top priority is ensuring that every election is conducted safely with the highest level of security. The integrity of our electoral process is fundamental to our democracy. Potential violations of election law are rare and we are committed to doing our duty," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido in a statement.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issued the following statement:
"I'm grateful to the Macomb County clerk for his partnership in ensuring that voter fraud is rare and that when it happens, we catch it and prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law. Thanks to our partnership and commitment to security, he followed the protocols we have in place, and I have now referred the matter to the Michigan Attorney General for further investigation and potential criminal charges."
CLICK HERE to play video.
By Scott Wolchek and David Komer / August 16, 2024 / FOX 2 Detroit
ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. (FOX 2) - Four people are accused of voting twice at Precincts 7, 15 and 16 in St. Clair Shores, sparking an investigation.
"We’re not going to put up with it," said Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini. "If there’s definitely fraud involved they’ll be prosecuted."
Forlini says the voters cast absentee ballots — then showed up to vote a second time in person.
He says the system originally flagged the double voting — but it was overridden by election volunteers
"The proper protocol would be for the clerk to be notified, the local clerk," he said. "And that clerk would look into the situation before they moved forward. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen."
Forlini says once the local clerk did find out, she immediately brought the matter to Forlini, Prosecutor Pete Lucido and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
Benson released a statement saying:
"I’m grateful to the Macomb County Clerk for ensuring that voter fraud is rare and that when it happens, we catch it and prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law.
"He followed the proper protocols and the matter has been referred to the attorney general for further investigation and potential criminal charges."
Forlini said security has been a top priority in Macomb County.
"I spent the last almost four years looking into potential holes in the system," he said. "We’re the only county in the state that did a forensic audit of our servers. We’ve come up with new protocols that make elections safer than ever. So any little thing I see, we’re going to shine the light of day on it."
As to why these voters tried to vote twice and who they voted for — it’s all under investigation.
CLICK HERE to play video.
 MichMash: County clerks on security, early voting in the 2024 general election
Hernz Laguerre / August 23, 2024 / MichMash
Michigan county clerks Anthony Forlini and Meredith Place joined the show to discuss their confidence in ensuring a fair and safe election in November.
After the 2020 elections, false voter fraud accusations have caused there to be a greater focus on county clerks who oversee the voting process. On this week’s episode of MichMash, Gongwer News Services’ Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben sat down with Republican Clerk of Macomb County, Anthony Forlini, and Democratic Clerk of Kalamazoo County, Meredith Place, about their confidence in the voting process.
Forlini and Place both expressed their confidence in the voting process, rejecting false claims made about widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
Forlini specifically addressed the claims made by his party about voting machines that were allegedly tampered with in the 2020 election. In response to the allegations, ballot machine maker Dominion Voting Systems filed several defamation lawsuits against those who spread conspiracy theories blaming its election equipment for Trump’s loss — including Fox News, which settled with the company for $787 million last year.
“President Trump never brought up the machines were corrupt. He never brought that up. If he did, he would have been sued,” Forlini said. “I think people are taking the concern they had and applying it to the tabulators. That’s not where they belong. I haven’t seen any instance in the state of Michigan where tabulators were compromised. It may be more human issues than the tabulators themselves.”
Early voting has grown in popularity since the 2020 elections, Place says, adding that it’s something voters are going to have to get used to.
“The first time I ever voted was in my dorm using early voting. When Prop 2 passed, like most clerks, I was a little nervous because of the amount of changes,” said Place. “However, I was excited to get to work and to get to work with the 19 local clerks throughout Kalamazoo County on implementing all of the requirements that were passed by our voters in 2022.”
The 2024 election is on Nov. 5.
CLICK HERE to play video
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Clerk's Office Staff Members Honored for
Years of Cumulative Service to the County
  Executive Mark Hackel recently presented two Clerk's Office staff members with certificates recognizing "Years of Cumulative Service" in Macomb County. Nancy Strobl (left) has reached 10 years of service, while Tara Dennis has reached 5 years of service to the County.
 Clerk Forlini also honored (from left) Kristine Hauer for 5 years, Eric Kadjan for 5 years, and Jean Craft for 10 years of service to the County.
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Early In-Person Voting for Upcoming November 3rd General Election!
Early voting allows a voter to cast and tabulate their ballot in person, prior to Election Day, in an experience similar to voting on Election Day.
Early Voting will be open to all Macomb County voters leading up to the November 5, 2024 Election, Early Voting will begin on Saturday, October 26th and end on Sunday, November 3rd.
Each community has their own specific early voting site and hours. For more information, contact your local city/township clerk or visit:
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